|
As the voice of experience, Fiscal Agents' Ron Collum has a lifetime
of experience from which he draws to assist clients in their financial
planning. This experience manifests itself in the patience and conversant
manner in which he communicates with his clients, many of them venturing
into financial planning for the first time.
"I don't mind the simple questions," explains Ron who
has been involved in financial services for more than 40 years.
"That's where the basics of financial planning begins. It's
easy to address the basics and help new clients build their confidence
and then their financial resources."
Having
spent his entire career in the financial services industry, he is
able to present all options open to his clients. He has watched
the economy and the markets rise and fall and rise and fall again.
"I preach patience on both sides when dealing with risk and
results,' he says. He respects that some clients may want to monitor
their holdings regularly while others are content to receive progress
updates.
Ron is viewed by his clients as a teacher and an educator. Clients
who are open to learning benefit most from his service. By limiting
himself to only one or two client meetings a day, he can focus on
each individual and their needs. Those needs may range from investing
retirement packages to those just entering the work force who want
to establish a savings and investment plan.
"I encourage some of my more mature clients to spend their
hard-earned dollars on themselves, to enjoy life, enjoy what they've
accumulated. I help them establish a plan where they'll have these
funds available, as well as build a portfolio for the long-term."
Ron begins with an in-depth analysis of each client's current financial
situation and helps them to look ahead to the future and ultimately
their retirement aspirations. Tax savings are always a concern and
through his analysis clients are assisted in setting up RRSPs and
RRIFs beyond what financial institutions may offer. It is this aspect
of his experience and industry knowledge, where clients derive the
greatest benefit. By offering products that include GICS, mutual
funds and segregated funds through life insurance. He is licensed
to handle life and term insurance as well as accident and sickness
insurance.
Ron entered the financial world in the 1950s with Bank of Nova Scotia.
He followed that up with a degree in business administration from
the University of Toronto in 1962. He began to broaden his base
of experience with positions in sales and administration with Canadian
National Railways, Air Canada, The Great West Life Assurance Company
and Montreal Trust Company. Ron joined Toronto- Dominion Bank in
1968 and eventually entered branch management. He retired from the
TD in 1995 and became an independent representative with Fiscal
Agents/ParGlobal Inc. and continues to share his knowledge of the
industry with clients of all ages and in all walks of life.
Throughout his business career, he has pursued extensive training
and accreditation that include management courses through the TD,
an ACI designation from the Credit Institute of Canada, Labour-Sponsored
Investment Funds course, Canadian Investment Funds course and Life,
Accident Sickness Insurance course for which he became licensed.
|
